阅读说明：本技术 电路和无线装置 (Circuit and wireless device ) 是由 加保贵奈 李斗焕 笹木裕文 八木康德 清水敬司 于 2019-02-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种电路,具备：电流、电压或电磁波(以下称为“电流等”。)被施加的第一输入输出部、电流等被施加的第二输入输出部、具备由一端连接到第一输入输出部且另一端为前端开放的第一线路形成并具有90度混合电路和延迟线路的矩阵电路的第一基板、具备一端连接到所述第二输入输出部且另一端为前端开放的第二线路的第二基板、以及具备开口部的屏蔽板,屏蔽板使从第一线路的作为前端开放的一端朝向屏蔽板的电流等经由开口部传播到第二线路的作为前端开放的一端,使从第二线路的作为前端开放的一端朝向屏蔽板的电流等经由开口部传播到第一线路的作为前端开放的一端。(A circuit is provided with: the present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device including a first input/output section to which a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave (hereinafter referred to as "current or the like") is applied, a second input/output section to which a current or the like is applied, a first substrate including a matrix circuit formed of a first line having one end connected to the first input/output section and the other end opened to a tip, and including a 90-degree hybrid circuit and a delay line, a second substrate including a second line having one end connected to the second input/output section and the other end opened to a tip, and a shield plate including an opening, wherein the shield plate causes a current or the like flowing from one end of the first line opened to the shield plate to propagate to one end of the second line opened to the tip via the opening, and causes a current or the like flowing from one end of the second line opened to the shield plate to propagate to one end of the first line opened to the tip via the opening.)

1. A circuit, comprising:

a first input/output unit to which a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave is applied;

a second input/output unit to which a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave is applied;

a first substrate including a matrix circuit formed of a first microstrip line having one end connected to the first input/output unit and the other end open to the front end, and including a 90-degree hybrid circuit and a delay line;

a second substrate having a second microstrip line having one end connected to the second input/output unit and the other end open to the front end; and

a shield plate having an opening portion,

the shield plate causes a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave, which is directed from the end of the first microstrip line open as the tip toward the shield plate, to propagate through the opening to the end of the second microstrip line open as the tip, and causes a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave, which is directed from the end of the second microstrip line open as the tip toward the shield plate, to propagate through the opening to the end of the first microstrip line open as the tip.

2. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein:

a phase shifter adjusting a phase of a current, a voltage or an electromagnetic wave excited in the second microstrip line; and

a first amplifier increasing an amplitude of a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave excited in the second microstrip line,

the phase shifter is connected to the second microstrip line,

the first amplifier is connected to the second microstrip line.

3. The circuit of claim 2, wherein,

further comprises a frame body which includes the first substrate, the second substrate, and the shield plate therein,

the frame body is provided with: a shielding portion shielding a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave excited in the first microstrip line and the second microstrip line, and a non-shielding portion not shielding a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave excited in the first microstrip line and the second microstrip line,

the second input/output unit radiates the electromagnetic wave to the outside of the housing via the non-shielding unit.

4. The circuit of claim 2 or 3,

further comprises a second amplifier for adjusting the current, voltage or amplitude of the electromagnetic wave excited in the second microstrip line,

the second amplifier is connected to a front stage of the phase shifter.

5. The circuit of any of claims 1-4, wherein the first substrate, the shield plate, and the second substrate are substantially parallel.

6. The circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second input/output portion is connected to an element of an antenna that radiates a predetermined electromagnetic wave, and the arrangement of the second input/output portion is substantially the same as the arrangement of the element.

7. A wireless device comprising the circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a circuit and a wireless device.

Background

Among the methods of realizing high-speed transmission, there is a MIMO (Multiple-input and Multiple-output) transmission technique. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of a MIMO transmission/reception system 900 that implements the MIMO transmission technique. The MIMO transmitting/receiving system 900 includes transmitting antenna arrays 911-1 to 911-N (N is an integer of 1 or more), transmitters 912-1 to 912-N, receiving antenna arrays 913-1 to 913-N, and receivers 914-1 to 914-N. The MIMO transmission/reception system 900 can realize high-speed transmission by performing instantaneous weighting processing based on channel information on both the transmitter and the receiver (non-patent document 1).

In addition, one of methods for realizing high-speed transmission in an environment with less propagation path fluctuation, such as an open environment, is a simple multi-stream transmission method using a fixed weight. A simple multi-stream transmission method using a fixed weight performs orthogonalization of analog propagation paths using a 90-degree phase shifter (non-patent document 2). Such a simple multi-stream transmission method using fixed weights uses fixed weights of an analog power supply circuit, thereby enabling the propagation path orthogonalization without estimation of propagation path information.

In addition, as a high-speed transmission technique of a backbone radio line and the like of a fifth generation mobile communication system, an oam (orbital angular momentum) multiplexing transmission technique has attracted attention.

The OAM multiplexing transmission technology is characterized in that multi-stream transmission is performed using revolution (orbital) angular momentum of electromagnetic waves which has not been used as a wireless communication system so far.

As a power supply circuit suitable for realizing the OAM multiplexing transmission technique, it is proposed to use a butler matrix circuit in an analog circuit section. As an analog circuit unit using a butler matrix circuit, for example, a butler matrix circuit of 8 elements formed on a planar circuit is proposed (non-patent documents 4 and 5).

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

When a power supply circuit in the OAM multiplexing transmission technology is implemented by a matrix circuit such as a butler matrix, a technique of ensuring isolation between streams in the matrix circuit is important. This is because, if isolation between streams in the matrix circuit is not obtained, interference components between streams increase, and transmission capacity decreases.

The isolation between the streams in the matrix circuit is caused by deterioration of orthogonality of the 90-degree hybrid circuit in the matrix and electromagnetic field coupling between the delay lines and the transmission lines.

As a technique for ensuring the inter-stream isolation in the matrix circuit, a technique for making the inter-stream isolation at 5.5GHz, which is the center frequency, about 11dB using a butler matrix circuit has been reported (non-patent document 5). However, this technique has problems such as: the isolation between streams at 5.3GHz, which is not the center frequency, is reduced to 6dB, and therefore, isolation over a wide frequency band cannot be ensured.

In addition, a technique of realizing high-speed transmission using such a matrix circuit is often realized by a transmission system having a configuration in which the matrix circuit and an antenna are connected by a transmission line or a cable as shown in fig. 14 (non-patent document 5). In such a case, it is assumed that a 1-dimensional array antenna is used as the antenna.

However, in the OAM multiplexing transmission technology, a configuration in which a 2-dimensional array antenna such as a loop is used as an antenna is assumed. Therefore, when the system of fig. 14 is used, there is a problem that: as shown in fig. 15, variations occur in the length, the bending form, and the like of the cable from the matrix circuit to the antenna portion, and isolation between streams decreases when the cable passes from the transmitter to the receiver.

In order to solve this problem, the output terminal may be disposed at a position where the length, bending mode, and the like of the cable from the matrix circuit to the antenna portion are not varied. However, there is a problem that in order to make the output terminals of the matrix circuit have a desired arrangement, the wiring becomes complicated, and it becomes difficult to miniaturize the device.

Further, in the matrix circuit, when the number of input/output terminals is increased, the number of 90-degree hybrid stages constituting the matrix circuit is increased, and there is a problem that the insertion loss becomes large. In order to compensate for this loss, it is effective to dispose a transmission amplifier or a reception-side low noise amplifier between the antenna and the matrix circuit. However, in this case, since a means for controlling the amplifier is required, there is a problem that it is difficult to mount the transmission amplifier or the reception low noise amplifier on the same substrate as the matrix circuit formed of the multilayer substrate. The means for controlling the amplifier means, for example, a mechanical means for discharging heat generated in the amplifier, a circuit for suppressing oscillation of the amplifier, a power supply line to the amplifier, or the like. When a matrix circuit having 4 or more input/output terminals is mounted on a planar substrate, it is often necessary to cross wirings. The following methods are used therein, namely: a multilayer substrate having 3 or more wiring layers is used and crossed by VIA holes or the like.

Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a specific example of a conventional matrix circuit having 2 input terminals and 2 output terminals. The matrix circuit is formed by a 90-degree hybrid circuit and a delay line or a phase shifter. In the case of a 2 × 2 matrix circuit, the wiring on the substrate is not complicated.

Fig. 17 is a diagram showing a specific example of a conventional matrix circuit having N input terminals and N output terminals. In the case of a matrix circuit in which N is 3 or more, the wirings become complicated, and intersections of the wirings occur at a plurality of places. Therefore, in the case of a matrix circuit in which N is 3 or more, a multilayer substrate is often used.

Further, when the frequency is a millimeter wave or the like, there is a case where a variation in passing phase is increased due to a deviation in impedance matching or the like caused by mounting to a connector on the same substrate as the matrix circuit. Therefore, in order to improve the accuracy of beam forming using an antenna, a variable phase shifter or the like for compensating for phase deviation may be mounted on the same substrate as the matrix circuit. However, since there are many variable phase shifters that require voltage control, it is necessary to add not only a variable phase shifter but also power supply wiring.

As described above, in a wireless communication apparatus that performs multi-stream transmission, it is sometimes difficult to achieve both reduction in inter-stream isolation and miniaturization of the apparatus.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a power supply circuit and a wireless device that can achieve both reduction in inter-stream isolation and suppression of increase in size of the device in a wireless communication device that performs multi-stream transmission.

Means for solving the problems

One aspect of the present invention is a circuit including: a first input/output unit to which a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave is applied; a second input/output unit to which a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave is applied; a first substrate including a matrix circuit formed of a first microstrip line having one end connected to the first input/output unit and the other end open to the front end, and including a 90-degree hybrid circuit and a delay line; a second substrate having a second microstrip line having one end connected to the second input/output unit and the other end open to the front end; and a shield plate having an opening portion, wherein the shield plate causes a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave, which is directed from one end of the first microstrip line, which is open at the tip, to propagate to one end of the second microstrip line, which is open at the tip, via the opening portion, and causes a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave, which is directed from one end of the second microstrip line, which is open at the tip, to propagate to one end of the first microstrip line, which is open at the tip, via the opening portion.

An aspect of the present invention is the above circuit, including: a phase shifter adjusting a phase of a current, a voltage or an electromagnetic wave excited in the second microstrip line; and a first amplifier that increases an amplitude of a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave excited in the second microstrip line, the phase shifter being connected to the second microstrip line, the first amplifier being connected to the second microstrip line.

An aspect of the present invention is the circuit described above, further including a frame body including the first substrate, the second substrate, and the shield plate therein, the frame body including: a shielding portion that shields electromagnetic waves generated by current, voltage, or electromagnetic waves excited in the first microstrip line and the second microstrip line, and a non-shielding portion that does not shield current, voltage, or electromagnetic waves excited in the first microstrip line and the second microstrip line, the second input-output portion radiating the electromagnetic waves to the outside of the housing via the non-shielding portion.

In an aspect of the present invention, the circuit further includes a second amplifier that adjusts an amplitude of a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave excited in the second microstrip line, and the second amplifier is connected to a preceding stage of the phase shifter.

In an embodiment of the present invention, in the circuit, the first substrate, the shield plate, and the second substrate are substantially parallel to each other.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the second input/output unit is connected to an element of an antenna that radiates a predetermined electromagnetic wave, and the arrangement of the second input/output unit is substantially the same as the arrangement of the element.

One embodiment of the present invention is a wireless device including the above circuit.

Effects of the invention

The present invention can provide a circuit and a wireless device that can achieve both reduction in inter-stream isolation and suppression of device size increase in a wireless communication device that performs multi-stream transmission.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a specific example of a functional configuration of a wireless device 100 according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of a cross section of the power feeding device 1 in the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between the slit portion 131 and the transmission signal line 141 in the first embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between the slit portion 131 and the third partial signal line 1213 in the first embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the output terminal 15 in the first embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of the functional configuration of the wireless device 100a in the second embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a specific example of a cross section of the power feeding device 1a in the second embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a specific example of the arrangement of the heat sink 17 in the second embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a specific example of the functional configuration of the wireless device 100b according to the third embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a specific example of a cross section of the power feeding device 1b in the third embodiment.

Fig. 11 is an external view showing an example of the overall configuration of a wireless device 100b according to the third embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a specific example of the functional configuration of the radio apparatus 100c according to the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of a MIMO transmission/reception system 900 that implements the MIMO transmission technique.

Fig. 14 shows a transmission system having a configuration in which a matrix circuit and an antenna are connected by a transmission line or a cable.

Fig. 15 is a diagram showing a specific example of a conventional wireless device.

Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a specific example of a conventional matrix circuit having 2 input terminals and 2 output terminals.

Fig. 17 is a diagram showing a specific example of a conventional matrix circuit having N input terminals and N output terminals.

Detailed Description

(first embodiment)

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a specific example of a functional configuration of a wireless device 100 according to a first embodiment. The wireless device 100 includes a power supply device 1, a cable 2, and an antenna 3. The power supply device 1 applies the current, voltage, or electromagnetic wave of the second amplitude waveform and the second phase waveform to the cable 2 when the current, voltage, or electromagnetic wave of the first amplitude waveform and the first phase waveform is applied. The amplitude waveform is a waveform showing a temporal change in amplitude. The phase waveform is a waveform showing a temporal change in phase. Hereinafter, the signal in which the current of the first amplitude waveform and the current of the first phase waveform are used as the transmission medium will be referred to as a first signal. Hereinafter, the signal in which the current of the second amplitude waveform and the current of the second phase waveform are used as the transmission medium will be referred to as a second signal.

The power supply device 1 includes input terminals 11-1 to 11-N (N is an integer of 1 or more), a matrix circuit unit 12, a shield plate 13, a transmission unit 14, and output terminals 15-1 to 15-N (N is an integer of 1 or more). Hereinafter, the input terminals 11-1 to 11-N are referred to as input terminals 11 without distinguishing them. Hereinafter, the output terminal 15 is referred to as an output terminal 15 when the output terminal 15 is not distinguished.

A current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave of a first amplitude waveform and a first phase waveform is applied to the input terminal 11. The amplitude waveform or the phase waveform of the first signal applied to the input terminal 11 may be different for each input terminal 11, or may be different for each input terminal 11.

The matrix circuit unit 12 includes a matrix circuit having a circuit such as a 90-degree hybrid circuit or a delay line, and converts the first amplitude waveform and the first phase waveform of the first signal applied to each input terminal 11 into a predetermined amplitude waveform and a predetermined phase waveform for each first signal. The first signal converted into a predetermined amplitude waveform or phase waveform by the matrix circuit unit 12 is a second signal. The matrix circuit section 12 outputs the second signal to the shield plate 13.

The shield plate 13 is a shield plate having slits 131-1 to 131-N. The slit portion 131 is an opening opened in the shield plate 13, and the shield plate 13 transmits the second signal output from the matrix circuit portion 12 to the transmission portion 14 by the slit portions 131-1 to 131-N. Specifically, the slot 131-M (M is an integer of 1 to N) transmits the second signal, which is converted by the matrix circuit unit 12, to the transmission unit 14, the first signal applied to the input terminal 11-M.

Hereinafter, the slit portions 131-1 to 131-N are referred to as slit portions 131 without being distinguished.

The transmission unit 14 includes a transmission line and a delay line, acquires the second signal transmitted by the shield plate 13, and transmits the second signal to the output terminal 15. The transmission unit 14 includes transmission signal lines 141-1 to 141-N. The transmission signal lines 141-1 to 141-N form a transmission line and a delay line, and acquire the second signal transmitted from the shield plate 13 and transmit the second signal to the output terminal 15. Specifically, the transmission signal lines 141 to M form a transmission line and a delay line, and transmit the second signal converted by the matrix circuit section 12 from the first signal applied to the input terminals 11 to M.

Hereinafter, the transmission signal lines 141-1 to 141-N are referred to as transmission signal lines 141 without being distinguished.

The second signal transmitted by the transmission section 14 is applied to the output terminal 15. The second signal transmitted by the transmission signal line 141-M is applied to the output terminal 15-M.

The cable 2 transmits the antenna control signal supplied from the power supply device 1 to the antenna 3. Specifically, the cables 2-M transmit second signals in which first signals applied to the input terminals 11-M are converted by the matrix circuit section 12. The cable 2 is connected to the output terminal 15 through a predetermined connector.

The antenna 3 includes a plurality of antenna elements 31-1 to 31-N arranged in a plane. The antenna elements 31-1 to 31-N are elements of the antenna 3. The antenna elements 31 to M radiate electromagnetic waves related to the maxwell system by using currents, voltages, or electromagnetic waves, which are transmission media of second signals in which first signals applied to the input terminals 11 to M are converted by the matrix circuit section 12. The antenna 3 functions as a two-dimensional array antenna in which the antenna elements 31-1 to 31-M radiate electromagnetic waves in synchronization with each other, thereby radiating electromagnetic waves in a predetermined radiation pattern.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of a cross section of the power feeding device 1 in the first embodiment.

The power feeding device 1 includes an input terminal 11, a matrix circuit unit 12, a shield plate 13, a transmission unit 14, an output terminal 15, and a housing 16.

The input terminal 11 includes a coaxial cable 111. The coaxial cable 111 transmits the first signal to the matrix circuit section 12.

The matrix circuit portion 12 includes circuit signal lines 121, a first GND (Ground) 122, and a circuit board 123. The circuit signal line 121 is a microstrip line with an open front end. The circuit signal line 121 forms a circuit that converts the first signal into the second signal. The circuit signal line 121 includes a first partial signal line 1211, a second partial signal line 1212, and a third partial signal line 1213. In the first partial signal line 1211, one end is connected to the coaxial cable 111, and the other end is connected to the second partial signal line 1212. In the second partial signal line 1212, one end is connected to the first partial signal line 1211, and the other end is connected to the third partial signal line 1213. In the third partial signal line 1213, one end is connected to the second partial signal line 1212 and the other end is open at the front end. The third partial signal line 1213 radiates an electromagnetic wave from one end, which is open as a front end, by the first signal.

The voltage of the first GND 122 is substantially the same as 0.

The circuit substrate 123 is made of a substance that does not flow the first signal, and supports the circuit signal line 121 and the first GND 122. The circuit board 123 is present substantially parallel to the surface S1 at a position spaced apart from the surface S1 of the inner wall of the power feeding device 1 by a distance L1. The space between the circuit board 123 and the surface S1 may be any space as long as it is a space having no mode of propagating the electromagnetic wave radiated by the first signal from the circuit board 123 to the surface S1. For example, the space between the circuit substrate 123 and the surface S1 may be a space of a vacuum or an air layer in which the distance L1 is a length short of a half wavelength of the electromagnetic wave radiated by the first signal. For example, the space between the circuit board 123 and the surface S1 may be a space in which the distance L1 is a length that is less than half the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave radiated by the first signal in the first space. For example, the space between the circuit board 123 and the surface S1 may be filled with a material having a dielectric constant that does not allow electromagnetic waves emitted by the first signal to pass therethrough.

The circuit board 123 includes a first partial signal line 1211 on a first surface, and a third partial signal line 1213 on a second surface opposite to the first surface. The circuit board 123 includes VIA holes as the second partial signal lines 1212, and the first partial signal lines 1211 and the third partial signal lines 1213 are connected by the VIA holes. The circuit board 123 includes a first GND 122 between the first partial signal line 1211 and the third partial signal line 1213 and substantially in parallel with the first partial signal line 1211 and the third partial signal line 1213. The first GND 122 is located at substantially the same position as the center position of the circuit substrate 123.

The shield plate 13 is a plate-shaped material having a thickness D1. The shield plate 13 includes the slit portion 131 as described above. The slit portion 131 is an opening that opens in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the circuit board 123 on which the third partial signal line 1213 is provided. The electromagnetic wave radiated from the third partial signal line 1213 propagates in the slit portion 131. The shielding plate 13 shields electromagnetic waves radiated from the third partial signal line 1213 at a position other than the opening (hereinafter referred to as "non-opening"). The shield plate 13 is present substantially parallel to the circuit board 123 at a distance L2 from the surface of the circuit board 123 including the third partial signal line 1213.

The slit portion 131 configured as described above does not pass through the direct current component of the electromagnetic wave, but can transmit a high-frequency signal such as a radio signal with low loss.

The shield plate 13 may be any plate-shaped material as long as it shields the electromagnetic wave radiated from the third partial signal line 1213 in the non-opening portion. For example, the non-opening portion of the shield plate 13 may be metal. For example, the shield plate 13 may be a photonic crystal that shields the electromagnetic wave emitted from the third partial signal line 1213 in the non-opening portion. For example, the shield plate 13 may also be a metamaterial that shields the electromagnetic wave radiated from the third partial signal line 1213 in the non-opening portion.

The opening portion may not necessarily be a vacuum or an air layer. For example, the opening may be a space filled with a substance that can propagate the electromagnetic wave emitted from the third partial signal line 1213.

The distance L2 between the surface of the circuit board 123 provided with the third partial signal line 1213 and the shield plate 13 may be any length, but is preferably the following length. It is preferable that there is no length of a mode in which the electromagnetic wave radiated by the second signal propagates from the surface including the third partial signal line 1213 of the circuit board 123 toward the non-opening portion of the shield plate 13. Specifically, the distance L2 is preferably equal to or less than half the wavelength of the substance in the space between the surface of the circuit board 123 including the third partial signal line 1213 and the shield plate 13, which utilizes the electromagnetic wave mode emitted by the second signal.

The transmission unit 14 includes a transmission signal line 141, a second GND 142, and a transmission substrate 143. The transmission signal line 141 is a microstrip line with an open front end. At one end of the transmission signal line 141, which is open at the distal end, a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave is excited by the current, the voltage, or the electromagnetic wave propagating through the slit portion 131. The current, voltage, or electromagnetic wave excited in the transmission signal line 141 is transmitted to the coaxial cable 151. The waveform of the current, voltage, or electromagnetic wave excited in the transmission signal line 141 is the same as that of the second signal, and therefore, the current, voltage, or electromagnetic wave propagated to the coaxial cable 151 is the second signal. In this manner, the third partial signal line 1213 and the transmission signal line 141 are electromagnetically connected via the slit portion 131.

The second GND is in contact with a surface S2 on the opposite side of the surface S1 of the inner wall of the power feeding device 1. The voltage of the second GND is substantially the same as 0.

The transfer substrate 143 is made of a substance that does not flow the second signal, and supports the transfer signal line 141 and the second GND 142. The transfer substrate 143 is provided with the second GND 142 on the face on the side of the face S2. The transmission substrate 143 includes the transmission signal line 141 on a surface opposite to the surface including the second GND 142.

The transfer substrate 143 is present substantially in parallel with the shield plate 13. The distance L3 between the surface of the transmission substrate 143 provided with the transmission signal line 141 and the shield plate 13 may be any length as long as it satisfies the condition of the electromagnetic wave mode between the substrates. The inter-substrate electromagnetic wave mode condition is a length in which there is a mode in which the electromagnetic wave radiated by the second signal propagates from the surface provided with the third partial signal line 1213 of the circuit substrate 123 to the surface provided with the transmission signal line 141 of the transmission substrate 143 via the opening of the shield plate 13. Specifically, L3 is a length of L2+ D1+ L3 which is equal to or longer than half the wavelength in the substance of the second signal.

The distance L3 between the surface of the transmission substrate 143 provided with the transmission signal line 141 and the shield plate 13 may be any length as long as it satisfies the condition of the electromagnetic wave mode between the substrates, but is preferably the following length. For example, the distance L3 is preferably a length that does not have a mode in which the electromagnetic wave radiated by the second signal propagates from the surface of the transmission substrate 143 including the transmission signal line 141 toward the non-opening portion of the shield plate 13. Specifically, the distance L3 is preferably equal to or less than half the wavelength of the substance in the space between the surface of the transmission substrate 143 provided with the transmission signal line 141 and the shield plate 13, which utilizes the electromagnetic wave mode of the second signal radiation.

The output terminal 15 includes a coaxial cable 151. The coaxial cable 151 transmits the signal transmitted by the transmission signal line 141 to the cable 2.

The housing 16 does not allow electromagnetic waves generated by the first signal and the second signal to pass through to the outside. The housing 16 surrounds the matrix circuit unit 12, the shield plate 13, and the transmission unit 14, and supports the matrix circuit unit 12, the shield plate 13, and the transmission unit 14. The housing 16 may be any housing as long as it does not allow the electromagnetic waves generated by the first signal and the second signal to pass through to the outside, and may be, for example, a housing having a metal having a dielectric constant that shields the electromagnetic waves generated by the first signal and the second signal.

Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, the Z axis is an axis parallel to the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in fig. 2, and the XYZ axis coordinate of the left-handed system is described below using the Y axis as an axis parallel to the direction perpendicular to the surface of the circuit board 123 including the third partial signal line 1213 and the X axis as an axis orthogonal to the Z axis and the Y axis. The positive direction of the Z axis is a direction from the near side to the far side of the paper. The positive Y-axis direction is a direction from the surface of the circuit board 123 including the third partial signal line 1213 toward the shield plate 13.

Hereinafter, the positional relationship among the third partial signal line 1213, the slit portion 131, and the transmission signal line 141 in the embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 3 and 4.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between the slit portion 131 and the transmission signal line 141 in the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a view of the slit portion 131 and the transmission signal line 141 viewed from the positive Y-axis direction. The slit portion 131 and the transmission signal line 141 are formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. When viewed from the positive Y-axis direction, the slit portion 131 and the transmission signal line 141 are in a positional relationship orthogonal to each other. The length of the slit portion 131 in the direction parallel to the long axis of the transmission signal line 141 is Ws, and the length of the slit portion in the direction perpendicular to the transmission signal line 141 is Ls. The length Ws and the length Ls satisfy the relationship that Ls > Ws. The length of the transmission signal line 141 in the direction parallel to the long axis of the slit portion 131 is Wm 2. When viewed from the positive Y-axis direction, the slit portion 131 and the transmission signal line 141 overlap each other at a distance Lm2 from the open end of the transmission signal line 141.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between the slit portion 131 and the third partial signal line 1213 in the first embodiment. The third partial signal line 1213 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The third partial signal line 1213 and the slit portion 131 are in a positional relationship orthogonal to each other when viewed from the Y-axis positive direction. The length of the third partial signal line 1213 in the direction parallel to the long axis of the slit 131 is Wm 1. The slit portion 131 and the third partial signal line 1213 overlap at a distance Lm1 from the open end of the third partial signal line 1213 on the negative side in the X axis direction when viewed from the Y axis positive direction.

The power feeding device 1 configured as described above includes the matrix circuit unit 12 and the transmission unit 14 in a single housing so as to face each other, and therefore can suppress complication of wiring and achieve both suppression of reduction in isolation between streams and suppression of increase in size of the device. The isolation between streams means a state in which the amplitude deviation or the phase deviation between the streams is small. A decrease in isolation between streams means an increase in amplitude deviation or phase deviation between streams.

Further, since the power feeding device 1 configured as described above includes the shield plate 13, the space inside the housing 16 is divided into at least 2 spaces. Therefore, the generation of the electromagnetic wave mode in the housing 16 can be suppressed, and the reduction of the isolation between the flows can be suppressed.

The power feeding device 1 configured as described above is capable of suppressing a decrease in inter-stream isolation by suppressing complication of wiring, and is provided with the plurality of output terminals 15 in substantially the same arrangement as the arrangement of the antenna elements 31 in the antenna 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the output terminal 15 in the first embodiment. Fig. 5 shows a specific configuration of the output terminal 15 in the case of N = 8. The power feeding device 1 includes an output terminal 15 on a side surface thereof in substantially the same arrangement as the arrangement of the antenna element 31 in the antenna 3. Therefore, the length and the bending manner of the cable 2-M connecting the output terminal 15-M and the antenna element 31-M are substantially the same regardless of the cable 2-M.

The radio device 100 configured as described above includes the output terminal 15 in substantially the same arrangement as the arrangement of the antenna element 31 in the antenna 3, and therefore, the wiring around the cable 2 can be reduced, and the reduction in the isolation between streams due to variations in the length, the bending form, and the like of the cable 2 can be suppressed.

(second embodiment)

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of the functional configuration of the wireless device 100a in the second embodiment. The radio apparatus 100a differs from the radio apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment in that a power feeding apparatus 1a is provided instead of the power feeding apparatus 1.

Hereinafter, the same reference numerals as those in fig. 1 to 4 are given to the contents having the same functions as those of the radio device 100 according to the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The power feeding device 1a differs from the power feeding device 1 in the first embodiment in that a transmission unit 14a is provided instead of the transmission unit 14. The transmission unit 14a is different from the transmission unit 14 in that it includes phase shifters 144-1 to 144-N and post amplifiers 145-1 to 145-N. Phase shifter 144-M is a variable phase shifter that is controlled by a voltage to adjust the phase of the second signal transmitted by transmission signal line 141-M. The subsequent amplifier 145-M is provided at a stage subsequent to the phase shifter 144-M, and adjusts the amplitude of the second signal whose phase is adjusted by the phase shifter 144-M. Hereinafter, the phase shifters 144-1 to 144-N are referred to as the phase shifters 144, respectively, without distinguishing the phase shifters. Hereinafter, the subsequent amplifiers 145-1 to 145-N are referred to as the subsequent amplifiers 145 without being distinguished from each other.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a specific example of a cross section of the power feeding device 1a in the second embodiment. The phase shifter 144 and the post-amplifier 145 are present on the surface of the transmission unit 14a including the transmission signal line 141.

The power feeding device 1a according to the second embodiment configured as described above can compensate for insertion loss, phase shift, and the like of the matrix circuit unit 12. Further, since the matrix circuit section 12 does not include the phase shifter 144 and the post-stage amplifier 145, the matrix circuit section 12 side, which is often the case of using a multilayer substrate, does not need to be filled with a metal for heat radiation. Since the matrix circuit section 12 does not include the phase shifter 144 and the post-amplifier 145, a power supply line for controlling a voltage, a drain voltage, or the like is not required on the matrix circuit section 12 side.

The power feeding device 1a may further include a heat sink 17.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a specific example of the arrangement of the heat sink 17 in the second embodiment. The heat sink 17 is disposed in the vicinity of the post-stage amplifier 145. The radiator 17 radiates heat generated by the post-stage amplifier 145 to the outside of the power supply device 1 a.

(third embodiment)

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a specific example of the functional configuration of the wireless device 100b according to the third embodiment. The radio device 100b differs from the radio device 100a in that a power feeding device 1b is provided instead of the power feeding device 1 a. The power feeding device 1b is different from the power feeding device 1a in that a radiation portion 18 is provided instead of the output terminal 15 and the cable 2.

Hereinafter, the same reference numerals as those in fig. 6 to 8 are given to the contents having the same functions as those of the wireless device 100a in the second embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The radiation unit 18 radiates the signal transmitted by the transmission signal line 141 as an electromagnetic wave, thereby transmitting the second signal to the antenna element 31.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a specific example of a cross section of the power feeding device 1b in the third embodiment. The radiation section 18 includes a housing opening 161.

The frame opening 161 is an opening opened in the frame 16. The second signal propagating through the transmission signal line 141 propagates as an electromagnetic wave to the outside of the power supply device 1b through the housing opening 161.

Fig. 11 is an external view showing an example of the overall configuration of a wireless device 100b according to the third embodiment.

In fig. 11, the antenna element 31 is located on the surface of the housing 16 where the radiation portion 18 is present.

Since the radio device 100b configured as described above transmits the second signal to the antenna 3 via the radiation unit 18, a cable between the antenna 3 and the power feeding device 1b is not necessary. Therefore, compensation of amplitude deviation or phase deviation caused by the cable is not required. Further, since no cable is required, an increase in cost for manufacturing the wireless device 100b can be suppressed.

The wireless device 100b configured as described above includes the transmission signal line 141 on a substrate (i.e., the transmission substrate 143) different from the substrate (i.e., the circuit substrate 123) including the matrix circuit section 12. Therefore, the radio device 100b configured as described above can suppress leakage of the electromagnetic wave radiated from the slit portion 131 with respect to the electromagnetic wave radiated from the radiation portion 18.

(fourth embodiment)

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a specific example of the functional configuration of the radio apparatus 100c according to the fourth embodiment.

The radio apparatus 100c differs from the radio apparatus 100b in that a power feeding apparatus 1c is provided instead of the power feeding apparatus 1 b. The power feeding device 1c differs from the power feeding device 1b in that a transmission unit 14c is provided instead of the transmission unit 14 a. The transmission unit 14c is different from the transmission unit 14a in that it includes pre-amplifiers 146-1 to 146-N and filters 147-1 to 147-N. Hereinafter, the preamplifier 146 is referred to as a preamplifier 146 without distinguishing the preamplifier 146-1 to 146-N. Hereinafter, the filters 147-1 to 147-N are referred to as filters 147 without being distinguished.

The preamplifier 146 is a buffer amplifier provided at a stage preceding the phase shifter 144 and configured to adjust the amplitude of the second signal.

The filter 147 removes unnecessary waves. The filter 147 may be any filter as long as it can remove unnecessary waves. The filter 147 may be, for example, a waveguide filter. The filter 147 may be an isolator made of a magnetic material, for example.

It is known that, when the phase shifter 144 is a voltage-controlled variable phase shifter, the impedance between the matrix circuit section 12 and the phase shifter 144 varies greatly depending on the circuit configuration, and isolation between the currents in the power supply device 1c is reduced.

Since the radio apparatus 100c according to the fourth embodiment configured as described above includes the preamplifier 146, it is possible to suppress a change in impedance between the matrix circuit section 12 and the phase shifter 144. Therefore, the radio apparatus 100c according to the fourth embodiment configured as described above can reduce the inter-stream isolation in the power supply apparatus 1 c.

The transmission units 14, 14a, and 14c and the antenna 3 are not necessarily connected by the cable 2, and may be connected by a waveguide. In the case where the transmission sections 14, 14a, and 14c and the antenna 3 are connected by a waveguide, the second signal is transmitted with lower loss than the cable according to the frequency band.

The matrix circuit section 12 is not necessarily formed on a 1-layer substrate, and may be formed on a multilayer substrate having 2 or more layers.

Although the wireless devices 100, 100a, 100b, and 100c are described as transmitters including power supply circuits, the wireless devices 100, 100a, 100b, and 100c can also function as receivers as described below. Specifically, the input terminal and the output terminal are switched, and the input and the output of the amplifier are switched. The exchange of the input terminal and the output terminal means that a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave is applied to the output terminal 15 and the radiation unit 18, and the current, the voltage, or the electromagnetic wave is output from the input terminal 11.

The inverting amplifier inputs and outputs are currents, voltages, or electromagnetic waves that flow from the output terminal 15 and the radiation unit 18 to the front end of the transmission signal line 141, instead of currents, voltages, or electromagnetic waves that flow from one end, which is open at the front end, to the rear amplifier 145 and the front amplifier 146 in embodiments 1 to 4.

In this case, the slit portion 131 of the shield plate 13 propagates a current, a voltage, or an electromagnetic wave from the end of the transmission signal line 141 open to the end of the circuit signal line 121 open to the end.

When the radio apparatuses 100, 100a, 100b, and 100c function as receivers, the order of the phase shifter 144 and the subsequent amplifier 145 or the previous amplifier 146 may be changed.

The circuit board 123 is an example of the first substrate. The transfer substrate 143 is an example of a second substrate. The circuit signal line 121 is an example of the first microstrip line. The transmission signal line 141 is an example of the second microstrip line. The slit portion 131 is an example of an opening portion. The output terminal 15 and the radiation unit 18 are examples of a first input/output unit and a second input/output unit. The post-amplifier 145 is an example of the first amplifier. The preamplifier 146 is an example of the second amplifier. The portion other than the housing opening 161 of the housing 16 is an example of the shielding portion. The frame opening 161 is an example of a non-shielding portion. The input terminal 11 is an example of a first input/output unit and a second input/output unit. The power supply devices 1, 1a, 1b, and 1c are examples of circuits.

A part of the matrix circuit section 12 in the above-described embodiment can be implemented by a computer. In this case, a program for realizing the function may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded in the recording medium may be read and executed by a computer system, thereby realizing the function. The "computer system" referred to herein includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. The term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a removable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. The "computer-readable recording medium" also includes a medium that dynamically holds a program for a short period of time, such as a communication line in the case where the program is transmitted via a network such as the internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and a medium that holds a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory inside a computer system serving as a server or a client in this case. The program may be a program for realizing a part of the above functions, a program that can realize the above functions by combining with a program already recorded in a computer system, or a program that can be realized by using a Programmable logic device such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to the embodiments, and may be designed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Description of reference numerals

1 … power supply device, 2 … cable, 3 … antenna, 11 … input terminal, 12 … matrix circuit unit, 13 … shielding plate, 14 … transmission unit, 15 … output terminal, 16 … frame, 17 … radiator, 18 … radiation unit, 111 … coaxial cable, 121 … circuit signal line, 122 … first GND, 123 … circuit substrate, 141 … transmission signal line, 142 … second GND, 143 … transmission substrate, 144 … phase shifter, 145 … post-stage amplifier, 146 … pre-stage amplifier, 147 … filter, 151 … coaxial cable, 1211 … first part signal line, 1212 … second part signal line, 1213 … third part signal line, 1a … power supply device, 14a … transmission unit, 14c … transmission unit, 161 … frame opening.